The Vancouver Marathon, the International Children's Festival and the beginning of the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival are just a few of the exciting events happening this May.
Ongoing, Saturdays through May 30
Pulse to the Podium: Celebrating Vancouver's Countdown to the 2010 Winter Games
What: Organized by the Vancouver Park Board at community centres around the city, each family-focused, single-day event celebrates the coming Olympics with fun and festive games, including Wii winter sports.
Where: Community centres in Vancouver; see site for details.
Cost: Free
Friday, May 1 – Sunday, May 31
explorASIAN Festival 2009
What: Coinciding with Asian Heritage Month, this month-long festival celebrates all things Asian with music, dance, visual arts, films, workshops, and kids' events.
Where: Various locations in Vancouver; check the site for details.
Cost:Various; check the site for details.
Friday, May 1 – Sunday, May 10
Vancouver International Burlesque Festival
What: The 4th Annual Vancouver International Burlesque Festival is a week-long celebration of burlesque, and includes local and international performers, workshops, fashion shows, parties, and more.
Where: Various locations; see site for details
Cost: Various; several events are free--see site for details
Saturday, May 2 – Sunday, May 3
Art in the City 2009
What: The West End’s family-friendly, 4th annual Art in the City event has art for sale in every medium: drawing, painting, photography, pottery, and more.
Where: West End Community Centre, 870 Denman Street, Vancouver
Cost: Free
Sunday, May 3
Vancouver Marathon
What: The 38th BMO Vancouver Marathon includes the Marathon, walking and wheelchair events, and the kid-friendly Kids MaraFun. The marathon is also a qualifier for both the New York Marathon and the Boston Marathon.
Where: Starts at Pacific Boulevard, at the south side of BC Place Stadium
Cost: $125 for the full Marathon (for registration on May 1 - 2); $40 for the Kids MaraFun
Sunday, May 3
Got Craft?
What: Vancouver's largest indie craft fair features over 50 vendors of local and handmade crafts, including clothing, jewelry, children’s accessories, and bath and body products. From 11am – 5pm.
Where: Royal Canadian Legion, 2205 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Cost: $2; free for kids under 10
Friday, May 8 – Sunday, May 10
EPIC: The Vancouver Sustainable Living Expo
What: This sustainable living expo is Vancouver's largest green consumer show and eco-marketplace. Learn about environmentally-friendly products and companies, attend lectures, and see green-living exhibits.
Where: Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre
Cost: $15 for one-day pass; $25 for weekend pass.
Saturday, May 9
The Pacific Spirit Run
What: The BMO Pacific Spirit Run is Canada’s largest trail run. Join thousands of runners and walkers and help raise funds for Tapestry Foundation for Health Care.
Where: Race route starts at Thunderbird Stadium at UBC; download a route map at the site
Cost: $35 for adults; $25 - $30 for kids, students and seniors.
Sunday, May 10
Mother's Day
Sunday, May 10 – Sunday, September 13
Vermeer, Rembrandt and the Golden Age of Dutch Art--Masterpieces from The Rijksmuseum at the Vancouver Art Gallery
What: In collaboration with the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, the Vancouver Art Gallery exhibits paintings from the Dutch masters of the 17th century, as well as an array of decorative arts, including furniture, silver, porcelain, and textiles.
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery
Cost: $20.50; $7 - $16 for kids, students and seniors
Monday, May 11 – Sunday, May 17
Bike to Work Week
What: Get ready for Bike Month in June with this week of biking to work. The Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition (VACC) will help you organize your co-workers and get them out of their cars and onto a bike.
Where: All over the Lower Mainland
Cost: Free
Monday, May 11 – Monday, May 18
Vancouver International Children's Festival
What: A world-renowned festival of performing arts for young audiences, the Vancouver International Children's Festival has been educating, entertaining and inspiring young audiences since 1978. The week-long festival features music, theatre, dance, storytelling, puppetry, circus acts, and more.
Where: Vanier Park, Vancouver
Cost: $16 per show; $18 - $20 for variety shows
Tuesday, May 12
Election Day - BC Provincial Elections
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, May 15 – September 6
Vancouver Chinatown Night Market
What: Chinatown’s night market has something for everyone, including Asian handicrafts, fashionable gifts, and lots of food. Runs 6:30pm – 11pm.
Where: Keefer St., between Main St. and Gore St., Chinatown, Vancouver
Cost: Free
Friday, May 22 – Sunday, May 24
EAT! Vancouver, The Everything Food & Cooking Festival
What: EAT! Vancouver is Canada’s largest consumer food show, with hundreds of food, beverage and kitchen gadget exhibitors, plus cooking demonstrations, wine and cheese seminars, and more.
Where: BC Place Stadium, 777 Pacific Blvd., Vancouver
Cost: $15 for adults, $6 for kids
Thursday, May 28 – Saturday, September 26
Bard on the Beach
What: The 20th season of Bard on the Beach, one of Canada's largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare Festivals, features Shakespeare plays, related dramas, operas and arias, lectures, and several special events, all in scenic Vanier Park.
Where: Vanier Park, Vancouver
Cost: $18 - $34, or all plays for $124
